Striker mechanism for plumbing fixtures

ABSTRACT

This covers a valve operating mechanism for operating rocker linkage controlling the stopper at the base of a bathtub or other plumbing fixture. The mechanism includes a striker consisting of a plurality of spaced parallel legs which are open-ended and they are arranged to contact the tip end of the rocker mechanism. The parallel legs are sufficiently widely spaced from each other to allow hair and other foreign material drained from the bathtub to be freely passed into the sewer system without causing any blockage at the striker, but the spacing between the legs of the striker is preferably close enough to prevent the tip end of the rocker linkage from being passed between, or from otherwise changing the spacing between, any of the legs of the striker.

United States Patent [191 Dunham [4 1 Dec. 24, 1974 STRIKER MECHANISM FOR PLUMBING FIXTURES [75] Inventor: Gerald Pitman Dunham, Middlesex,

[73] Assignee: American Standard Inc., New York,

[22] Filed: Aug. 22, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 282,792

[52] U.S. Cl. 4/199 [51] Int. Cl. E03e 1/232 [58] Field of Search 4/197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 4/202, 203, 204; 74/101, 104, 105; 403/220,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 166,045 7/1875 Weaver 4/203 407,793 7/1889 Scott 4/199 568,261 9/1896 Lewis i 4/200 1,737,804 l2/1929 Reedy 4/199 2,706,298 4/1955 I-Iolycross, Jr. 4/199 2,910,704 11/1959 Kinsey et al. 4/199 3,344,626 10/1967 Spangler .l 68/122 3,656,188 4/1972 Thorp 4/199 FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS 7/1936 Great Britain 4/198 i an t i 735,617 8/1932 France 4/200 478,911 3/1953 Italy 1 4/199 614,781 l/l96l Italy l 4/199 198,995 6/1908 Germany l 4/203 485 0/0000 Great Britain 68/122 480,185 1/1952 Canada 68/122 Primary ExaminerHarvey C. Hornsby Assistant ExaminerDonald B. Massenberg Attorney, Agent, or FirmJefferson Ehrlich; Robert G. Crooks; James J. Salerno, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT This covers a valve operating mechanism for operating rocker linkage controlling the stopper at the base of a bathtub or other plumbing fixture. The mechanism includes a striker consisting of a plurality of spaced parallel legs which are open-ended and they are arranged to contact the tip end of the rocker mechanism. The parallel legs are sufficiently widely spaced from each other to allow hair and other foreign material drained from the bathtub to be freely passed into the sewer system without causing any blockage at the striker, but the spacing between the legs of the striker is preferably close enough to prevent the tip end of the rocker linkage from being passed between, or from otherwise changing the spacing between, any of the legs of the striker.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures JJEFNEUUEEZMW 5,855,648

sum 10; 2

PAT Tmznzalsm sum 2 BF 2 1 STRIKER MECHANISM FOR PLUMBING FIXTURES This invention relates to valve structures for bathtubs and the like and, more particularly, to valve operating structures for the efficient release of hair and other solid matter into the sewer system and for the free and substantially complete drainage of water and foreign matter from bathtubs or the like.

The usual water discharge valve mechanism for bathtubs employs a vertically movable stopper at or near the bottom of the tub which, when opened, provides an opening in the bottom or base of the tub to release water from the tub, and it also provides a separate overflow outlet to release water from the tub when the water level exceeds a predetermined height to prevent flooding of the bathroom. The overflow outlet usually is coupled to an interconnecting vertical pipe leading to the water or sewer system. The discharge opening provided by the stopper at the base of the tub is usually coupled by an interconnecting horizontal pipe, located beneath the tub and coupled to the same waste or sewer system below the bottom of the vertical overflow pipe.

A popular improved form of valve mechanism quite widely used with bathtubs employs a handle at or near the overflow outlet which controls the movement of a long rod which is vertically movable within the vertical pipe. The vertical rod, in turn, vertically displaces a he lical spring coil, sometimes called a striker or a striker coil. The striker coil sits on the end of rocker linkage which, in turn, will move the stopper up at the base of the tub in response to the movement of the handle or hand-controlled lever in one direction to release water within the tub and, conversely, will move the stopper down to seal the drain outlet at the base of the tub when the handle is moved in the opposite direction to its initial position, thereby causing water fed into the tub to be retained by the tub. A widely used mechanism ofthis general type just outlined is shown and described in an expired U.S. Pat. No. 2,706,298, issued Apr. 19, 1955, to F. R. Holycross, Jr.

The familiar helical coil striker of the abovedescribed mechanism is a source of considerable trouble because hair, for example, especially the long hair of girls and women who wash or rinse their hair in the tub, becomes entwined around the turns of the coil and remains fixed in the path of the waste pipe to constitute a substantial blockage. The hair and other matter accumulates in the discharge path and, before long, virtually stops all discharge water flow to the drain or sewer system. Furthermore, such accumulated matter may produce chemical reactions, and perhaps other adverse effects, on the metal and other parts which become decomposed. Also, the blockage of the exit for the discharge water causes the water within the tub to accumulate and fail to discharge, marring the appearance of the bathtub and of the bathroom and, soon, the bathtub becomes unuseable. Plumbing work may have to be performed to clear the blockage and this may require a plumber to break through the walls to reach the clogged area and clean out the parts or replace the parts if they are damaged. The services of a master plumber may be available at relatively high cost and this inherently involves substantial delays before the plumbing fixture becomes serviceable again.

According to the present invention, a new valve operating mechanism is provided, the mechanism including a very different form of striker mechanism which will freely pass hair and other foreign matter. Moreover, the material of the striker mechanism will be normally inert chemically with respect to the products usually drained into the sewer system. One of the main components of the striker mechanism of this invention includes a device embodying a plurality of relatively smooth legs, all preferably made of plastic material, the various legs being preferably disposed along a cylindrical contour, but being spaced from each other. The downstream ends of the legs may contact, or may be so close as to have contact with, the tip of the rocker linkage coupling the striker device with the stopper at the base of the tub. All of the several legs of the striker should be rigidly connected together, preferably at their upstream ends. All of the legs should be sufficiently long so as to be able to actuate the rocker tip without exposing the means employed to interconnect the several legs to each other. All of the legs must be independent of eachother and free at their downstream ends. Moreover, the space between adjacent legs of the striker must be sufficiently large so as to freely permit waste matter, especially long hair, to pass freely to the sewer system, that is, with a minimum resistance, but, in certain cases to be subsequently discussed, the spacing between adjacent legs should preferably be close enough so as to prevent the tip of the rocker mechanism from entering the space between any pair of legs.

This invention, together with its several objects and features, will be better and more clearly described and understood from the following description and explanation of exemplary forms of this invention, when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, actually illustrating certain forms of the mechanism of this invention, including its important striker components. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a schematical form of the drain control mechanism of this invention, shown in cross-section;

FIG. 2 shows an elevational view, in cross-section, of the striker mechanism component of the drain control mechanism of this invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an elevational view of a modified form of striker component according to this invention;

FIG. 4 shows a bottom plan view of the striker component of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 illustrates another or modified form of the drain control mechanism embodying the striker component of FIGS. 3 and 4.

Similar parts will be designated by the same reference characters wherever they may occur in the drawmg.

Referring to the drawing and especially to FIG. 1 of the drawing, there is a schematic representation of the essential drain control mechanism of this invention. The bathtub 1, shown only in a small segment, has, at its bottom or base, a drain plug or spud 2 through which water within the bathtub may be allowed to drain. The drain plug 2 has an externally treaded portion 3 which meshes with the internal threaded portion of a waste elbow 4. A gasket 5 may be positioned between the waste elbow 4 and the bottom surface of the tub I and serves as a water seal.

A stopper 6 is vertically movable within the central opening of the drain plug 2, as shown in FIG. 1. The stopper 6 is provided with a number of radially extending guide wings 7, perhaps four in number. The stopper 6 is coupled to the axial pivot 8 by means of a threaded stem 9 which is also part of the overall stopper mechanism 6. A nut 10 is threaded internally to mesh with the external threads of the stem 9 for locking or affixing the stopper mechanism 6 to the axial pivot 8 of the rocker linkage RL.

The rocker linkage RL includes a link 11 at the right end which is coupled by a pivot 12 to an intermediate curved link 13 which, in turn is coupled to a link 14 by means of another axial coupler 15, as shown. The rocker linkage mechanism RL is positioned within a drain elbow tube 17 so that the link 13 may be pivoted or rocked about some centralized point or area at the bottom of the drain elbow pipe 17. The rocker tip bolt 14 is threadedly coupled to the rocker tip 18 of the overall rocker linkage RL and is held against the rocker tip 18 by means of a lock nut 19. The rocker tip 18 of the rocker linkage RL forms the seat upon which the striker component or striker 20 of the striker mechanism SM may be rested or from which the striker component 20 may be spaced slightly, as will now be described and explained.

The striker mechanism SM includes the striker component 20 which may be composed of a plurality of equal legs 21 all substantially parallel to each other and spaced from each other. The striker component 20 may be formed, as shown in FIG. 1, to embody a striker extension 23 which has an internally threaded portion 24. A striker rod has its lower end threaded so that it may be threadedly coupled to and adjusted within the threaded opening 24 of the striker extension 23. The upper end of the striker rod 25 is shaped in the form of a hook 26 so that it may be physically coupled to a rotatable lever arm 30. The striker rod 25 responds to control by the users lever 31 so that the rod 25 may be vertically displaced by the user of the equipment whenever desired, as will be explained.

The striker 20, and its extension 23 and rod 25, are normally movable as a composited unit under control of the user, within an overflow tube 32. Any downward movement of the striker mechanism SM will deflect the rocker tip 18 of rocker mechanism RL in a downward direction. On the other hand, the upward movement of the striker mechanism SM will release the pressure on the rocker tip 18 and cause the rocker tip 18 to return to its upward position.

As noted, the user will have the lever 31 available to him to control the movement of the striker mechanism and thereby to control the opening and closing of the stopper device 6 at the base of tub I. The lever 31 is rotatable through a limited angle about an axial point 34 to control the position of a lever extension 30. The left end of the lever extension 30 has an opening 36 for receiving the hook end 26 of the striker rod 25. The lever 31 is shown in its closed position, as it appears in FIG. 1, where the striker component 20 is in its uppermost position and the stopper 6 is closed to seal the opening at the base of the bathtub 1 to bar the drainage of water from the bathtub 1. On the other hand, when the lever 31 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as shown by the arrow A, about its fulcrum point 34, the lever arm 30 will be rotated through an equal angle about the axial point 34 and drive the striker rod 25 and its extension 23 as well as the striker component 20 in a downward direction. The legs of the striker component 20 will force the tip end 18 of the rocker linkage RL downwardly so as to move the rocker linkage RL in a general counter-clockwise direction about the point or area of contact within the drain elbow pipe 17 and thereby force the stopper 6 upwardly against the pressure of any water within the tub 1. The water within the tub will be drained through the drain plug 2 and the drain elbow pipe 17 and through the spaces between the legs 21 of striker 20 to be discharged through the waste pipe 40 to the sewer system.

The overflow tube 32 is sealingly joined at its upper end to the overflow elbow 41. An overflow gasket 43 is positioned between the overflow elbow 41 and the adjacent bathtub 1. A spring 45 serves to hold the lever extension 30 extended and away from the axial pivot 34. i

The bathtub 1 has an overflow outlet 48. An escutcheon 49, held in place by screws (not shown), will cover the overflow outlet 48 as well as the lever extension 30 and the spring 45. The escutcheon, however, is provided with peripheral openings so that water in the tub, as it rises above the predetermined level determined by the lowermost part of the outlet 48, will flow into the overflow tube 32 and pass down along the sides of and through the striker mechanism SM, including its striker component 20, to be discharged into the waste pipe 40 and the sewer system.

The lower end of the overflow tube 32 is held within a Tee 55. A gasket 56 is held between the upper end of the Tee 55 and the overflow tube 32 and is locked in position by a threaded nut 57. Another gasket 58 is sometimes positioned between the lower end of the Tee 55 and the waste pipe 40 and is then held in position by a lock nut 60. Moreover, a gasket 61 is interposed between the exterior of the drain tube 17 and the right end of the Tee 55 and is held in position by a lock nut 62, as shown. These several gaskets serve to seal the interconnected piping against leakage.

FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the striker component 20 and the striker extension 23. FIG. 2 shows the striker component 20 and the extension 23 as a unitary element, preferably made of plastic material.

FIG. 3 shows a modified form of the striker component 20 with its parallel legs 21. This form embodies a hook used for connection to the striker extension or clevis 46. FIG. 4 shows a bottom plan view of the striker component of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a form of drain control mechanism in which a similar striker component is employed. The hook 70 of striker component 20 is linked through the clevis 46 to a separate and independent striker rod 71. The hook 70 of the striker component 20 is insertable into the circular opening 72 at the lower end of the clevis 46. The striker rod 71 has a hook 73 which is linked by an axial or rotary member 74 to the axial or rotary lever 31.

As shown in all of the figures of the drawing, especially FIGS. 3 and 4, the legs 21 of the striker component are preferably parallel to each other and are preferably uniformly spaced from each other, and they may be arranged in a cylindrical pattern. It is important that the spacings between the legs 21 be sufficiently large to freely pass hair and other foreign matter drained through the horizontal drain pipe 17 after passing through the opening in the drain plug 2. If the spacings are sufficiently large, the hair and other foreign matter will encounter very little resistance from legs 21 in their lower position and such matter will be exited promptly into the drain pipe 40. However, in certain cases to be subsequently discussed, it is necessary that the spacings between the legs 21 be sufficiently small (but not too small for the above reasons) so that, in response to the actuation of the lever 31, the legs 21 will not be bent over under the downward pressure of the striker mechanism SM so as to straddle the end 18 of the rocker linkage RL. This will prevent not only the breakage of one or more of the legs 21 of the striker component 20, but will also prevent any gripping or holding of the end 18 of the rocker linkage RL.

The arrangement of the striker component 20, with its parallel legs 21 properly spaced, has been found to prevent hair and other foreign matter customarily discharged from being held by the striker component 20. Such foreign matter will freely traverse the spaces between the legs 21. The possibility of any hair or other foreign matter being retarded by the legs 21 of striker component can only occur when the striker 20 is in or about its lowermost position, that is, when the stopper 6 is open and there is a free discharge of water and any ingredients and materials therein through the drain elbow 17. According to the structure of the mechanism, moreover, as the striker component 20 is raised in response to the movement of the lever 31 in a clockwise direction, the ends of the legs 21 of the striker component 20 may be raised sufficiently above the end 18 of the rocker linkage RL so as to further free any hair or other foreign matter that may have been otherwise retained between the ends of the legs 2] and the end 18 of the rocker linkage RL.

In one arrangement according to this invention, the external diameter about the periphery of the nine legs 21 employed was approximately 1.23 inches. The legs 21 were slightly over 1.5 inches in length. Each leg was cylindrical in shape and of very smooth surface and had a diameter of about 0.188 inches. The rocker tip l8 was cylindrical and had an external diameter of about 0.45 inches.

In tests carried out to compare the hair clogging resistance of a striker component such as 20 according to this invention, with the resistance of a standard helical type striker widely used in plumbing fixtures at this time, three grams of hair, weighed dry, were divided into three approximately equal batches and they were separately and sequentially fed to a 5 foot bathtub, filled with water to a level approximately one inch below the lowest point of overflow. Each batch was disbursed substantially evenly throughout the bathtub filled to the level indicated. Each batch of hair was disbursed substantially evenly through the drain elbow pipe 17 into the waste discharge pipe. Any hair remaining in the tub after each discharge was rinsed down the drain 2 to the sewer system. Substantially no hair was found to be retained on or between the legs 21 of the striker component 20. The good results were in sharp contrast with those obtained with similar batches of hair fed to the conventional or standard helical spring type striker in wide use for many years.

FIG. 1 is representative of a spring-loaded manually operated structure, while FIG. 5 is representative of an over-center type of manually operated structure.

In the spring-loaded structure of FIG. 1, the legs 21 of the striker component 20 should be sufficiently rigid so as to cause the handle 31 to be returned against its spring loading to its closed position when the stopper 6 is forced closed (by, for example, the user stepping on the stopper 6) without permitting the rocker tip 18 to enter the space between any pair of adjacent legs 21. This may be achieved by varying either the leg spacing, the leg cross-sectional geometry, the rocker tip geometry, the modulus of elasticity of the material of the striker legs 21, or any combination of these factors.

On the other hand, in the over-center type of structure of FIG. 5, the legs 21 of the striker component 20 should preferably be sufficiently flexible to enable the rocker tip 18 of the rocker mechanism to separate and pass between the legs 21 sufficiently (without the legs being broken) when the user steps on the stopper 6 with sufficient force, but the leg stiffness should be sufficient to prevent the legs 21 to be separated by the rocker tip 18 when the stopper 6 is opened by actuating the handle 31 while the bathtub 1 contains a full head of water. So arranged, the mechanism positioned or coupled between the stopper 6 and the handle 31 will be protected against damage or breakage by an inordinate applied force. The mere manipulation of the handle 31 will free the rocker tip 18 from the holding action of the legs 21 of striker component 20, thereby returning the mechanism to its normal operating status. These conditions may be achieved by control of the same factors as just previously mentioned.

Although FIG. 4 shows that the several legs may be circularly cylindrical, it will be apparent that the legs may be of any other cylindrical shape, such as triangularly cylindrical, or trapezoidally cylindrical, etc. Furthermore, the legs need not be arranged in a circularly cylindrical pattern, but should preferably be arranged to conform to the cross-sectional shape of the vertical opening or passage of the Tee 55. Thus, if the Tee 55 has a triangular or rectangular vertical opening, the legs should be preferably arranged along corresponding respective triangular or rectangular patterns.

Although the striker component 20 may embody substantially parallel legs 21, the legs 21 need not be parallel to each other but may have considerably divergencies so long as the legs are free at their lower or downstream ends.

While the legs 21 of the striker component 20 are nine in number in the exemplary case, any other number of legs 21 may be embodied in the component 20 so long as the spacings therebetween are maintained within the prescribed limitations. Each leg 21 should be flexible or deflectable under pressure, as discussed, so that the ends of the legs 21 may be deflected or changed in spacing under downward pressure, but the spacings should return to their normal magnitudes as soon as the downward pressure is removed or dissipated.

The striker mechanism SM is preferably made of any form of plastic material. Hercules polypropylene Profax 6523 material has been found to be acceptable.

What is claimed is:

l. A striker component adapted to be housed within a tubular member on a plumbing fixture and being capable of reciprocation inside the tubular member for controlling a moveable stopper positioned in the discharge opening of a plumbing fixture comprising:

a unitary member having a plurality of spaced, elongated, flexible, generally parallel cantilever legs; and

means interconnecting said legs at one end and having an extension enabling said component to be re ciprocated as a unit from a raised to a lowered position within said tubular member;

said legs being spaced a distance apart such that hair and other foreign matter contained in drain water will pass therebetween and said legs being of such length so that said interconnecting means will not enter in the path of the drain water when said striker component is in lowered position thereby preventing hair or other foreign matter from clogging the drain.

2. A striker component according to claim 1, in which each leg is of cylindrical shape and the legs are arranged in a substantially cylindrical configuration.

3. A striker component according to claim 1 including means for connecting the component to movable means, said movable means controlling the discharge opening of the plumbing fixture.

4. A plumbing fixture comprising a moveable stopper positioned substantially at the base of the fixture;

a striker component housed within a tubular member and on said plumbing fixture including a unitary member having a plurality of spaced, elongated, flexible, generally parallel cantilever legs;

means interconnecting said legs at one end and hav ing an extension enabling said component to be reciprocated as a unit from a raised to a lowered position within said tubular member;

said legs being spaced a distance apart such that hair and other foreign matter contained in drain water will pass therebetween and said legs being of such length so that said interconnecting means will not enter in the path of the drain water when said striker component is in lowered position thereby preventing hair or other foreign matter from clogging the drain;

means for manipulating said striker component for reciprocation within the tubular member; and

means for coupling the striker component for actuation of the moveable stopper from an open drain position to a closed position when said striker component is reciprocated toward and away from the moveable stopper.

5. A plumbing fixture according to claim 4 in which the coupling means between the stopper and the striker component is pivoted at a point or area between the stopper and the legs of the striker component.

6. A plumbing fixture according to claim 4 in which the coupling means between the stopper and the striker component is a rocker linkage.

7. Mechanism for discharging water from a plumbing fixture having a vertically moveable stopper at the base of the fixture and an overflow opening in a side wall of the fixture;

a substantially vertical tubular member on said plumbing fixture extending vertically downward from the overflow opening;

a substantially horizontal tube extending from the stopper to said vertical tube both tubes being coupled together and having a common opening leading to a sewer system;

a unitary striker component positioned within the vertical tube adjacent the common opening, said component having a plurality of spaced, elongated, flexible, generally parallel cantilever legs;

means interconnecting said legs at one end and having an extension enabling said component to be reciprocated as a unit from a raised to a lowered posi tion within said tubular member;

said legs being spaced a distance apart such that hair and other foreign matter contained in drain water will pass therebetween and said legs being of such length so that said interconnecting means will not enter in the path of the drain water when said component is in lowered position thereby preventing hair or other foreign matter from clogging a drain;

a rocker mechanism disposed in said horizontal tube, one end being coupled to said vertically moveable stopper and the other end positioned within the common opening and in the path of the legs of the striker component positioned within the vertical tube;

a manually controlled actuator mounted on the fixture and positioned adjacent the upper end of the vertical tube and hook means for coupling the striker component to the actuator.

8. Mechanism for discharging water from a plumbing fixture according to claim 7, in which the tip end of the rocker mechanismincludes a member which is positioned substantially horizontally and is substantially larger than the normal spacing between any two adjacent legs of the striker component before their flexure.

substantially at the base of the fixture;

a unitary striker component having a plurality of spaced, elongated, flexible, generally parallel legs;

means interconnecting said legs at one end and having an extension enabling said component to be re ciprocated as a unit from a raised to a lowered position within said tubular member;

said legs being spaced a distance apart such that hair and other foreign matter contained in drain water will pass therebetween and said legs being of such length so that said interconnecting means will not enter in the path of the drain water when said striker component is in lowered position thereby preventing hair or other foreign matter from clogging the drain;

a mechanically operated actuator;

a substantially vertical pipe housing said striker component and having means therein for mechanically coupling the actuator to the striker component so that the striker component is moveable only in a vertical direction with the free ends of its legs at the bottom of the component;

a drain pipe coupled to said vertical pipe so as to provide fluid communication between said moveable stopper and said striker component;

said drain pipe including a horizontal pipe having an opening adjacent the striker component within the vertical pipe when the striker component is in its lowered position, the vertical pipe having an opening adjacent the opening in the horizontal pipe so that both openings constitute a substantially continuous fluid transmission path; and

a rocker mechanism for actuating the moveable stopper when said striker component is moved downwardly within the vertical pipe in which the legs of the striker component Contact the rocker mechanism to actuate the moveable stopper vertically into the drain position. 

1. A striker component adapted to be housed within a tubular member on a plumbing fixture and being capable of reciprocation inside the tubular member for controlling a moveable stopper positioned in the discharge opening of a plumbing fixture comprising: a unitary member having a plurality of spaced, elongated, flexible, generally parallel cantilever legs; and means interconnecting said legs at one end and having an extension enabling said component to be reciprocated as a unit from a raised to a lowered position within said tubular member; said legs being spaced a distance apart such that hair and other foreign matter contained in drain water will pass therebetween and said legs being of such length so that said interconnecting means will not enter in the path of the drain water when said striker component is in lowered position thereby preventing hair or other foreign matter from clogging the drain.
 2. A striker component according to claim 1, in which each leg is of cylindrical shape and the legs are arranged in a substantially cylindrical configuration.
 3. A striker component according to claim 1 including means for connecting the component to movable means, said movable means controlling the discharge opening of the plumbing fixture.
 4. A plumbing fixture comprising a moveable stopper positioned substantially at the base of the fixture; a striker component housed within a tubular member and on said plumbing fixture including a unitary member having a plurality of spaced, elongated, flexible, generally parallel cantilever legs; means interconnecting said legs at one end and having an extension enabling said component to be reciprocated as a unit from a raised to a lowered position within said tubular member; said legs being spaced a distance apart such that hair and other foreign matter contained in drain water will pass therebetween and said legs being of such length so that said interconnecting means will not enter in the path of the drain water when said striker component is in lowered position thereby preventing hair or other foreign matter from clogging the drain; means for manipulating said striker component for reciprocation within the tubular member; and means for coupling the striker component for actuation of the moveable stopper from an open drain position to a closed position when said striker component is reciprocated toward and away from the moveable stopper.
 5. A plumbing fixture according to claim 4 in which the coupling means between the stopper and the striker component is pivoted at a point or area between the stopper and the legs of the striker component.
 6. A plumbing fixture according to claim 4 in which the coupling means between the stopper and the striker component is a rocker linkage.
 7. Mechanism for discharging water from a plumbing fixture having a vertically moveable stopper at the base of the fixture and an overflow opening in a side wall of the fixture; a substantially vertical tubular member on said plumbing fixture extending vertically downward from the overflow opening; a substantially horizontal tube extending from the stopper to said vertical tube both tubes being coupled together and having a common opening leading to a sewer system; a unitary striker component positioned within the vertical tube adjacent the common opening, said component having a plurality of spaced, elongated, flexible, generally parallel cantilever legs; means interconnecting said legs at one end and having an extension enabling said component to be reciprocated as a unit from a raised to a lowered position within said tubular member; said legs being spaced a distance apart such that hair and other foreign matter contained in drain water will pass therebetween and said legs being of such length so that said interconnecting means will not enter in the path of the drain water when said component is in lowered position thereby preventing hair or other foreign matter from clogging a drain; a rocker mechanism disposed in said horizontal tube, one end being coupled to said vertically moveable stopper and the other end positioned within the common opening and in the path of the legs of the striker component positioned within the vertical tube; a manually controlled actuator mounted on the fixture and positioned adjacent the upper end of the vertical tube and hook means for coupling the striker component to the actuator.
 8. Mechanism for discharging water from a plumbing fixture according to claim 7, in which the tip end of the rocker mechanism includes a member which is positioned substantially horizontally and is substantially larger than the normal spacing between any two adjacent legs of the striker component before their flexure.
 9. In a plumbing fixture comprising a stopper located substantially at the base of the fixture; a unitary striker component having a plurality of spaced, elongated, flexible, generally parallel legs; means interconnecting said legs at one end and having an extension enabling said component to be reciprocated as a unit from a raised to a lowered position within said tubular member; said legs being spaced a distance apart such that hair and other foreign matter contained in drain water will pass therebetween and said legs being of such length so that said interconnecting means will not enter in the path of the drain water when said striker component is in lowered position thereby preventing hair or other foreign matter from clogging the drain; a mechanically operated actuator; a substantially vertical pipe housing said striker component and having means therein for mechanically coupling the actuator to the striker component so that the striker component is moveable only in a vertical direction with the free ends of its legs at the bottom of the component; a drain pipe coupled to said vertical pipe so as to provide fluid communIcation between said moveable stopper and said striker component; said drain pipe including a horizontal pipe having an opening adjacent the striker component within the vertical pipe when the striker component is in its lowered position, the vertical pipe having an opening adjacent the opening in the horizontal pipe so that both openings constitute a substantially continuous fluid transmission path; and a rocker mechanism for actuating the moveable stopper when said striker component is moved downwardly within the vertical pipe in which the legs of the striker component contact the rocker mechanism to actuate the moveable stopper vertically into the drain position. 